About Us

About the Global Initiative for Resource Efficient Cities (GI-REC)

In June 2012 at the Rio+20 global summit on sustainable development, UN Environment launched the Global Initiative for Resource Efficient Cities (GI-REC) to capitalize on the potential for cities to lead action towards greater resource efficiency.

GI-REC is a cooperation platform offered by UN Environment to connect many different institutions that are using systems approaches (specifically urban metabolism and morphology approaches) towards building low-carbon, resilient, and resource efficient cities.

Using UN Environment’s convening ability, the Initiative distinguishes itself from other city sustainability activities by

(a) building on existing city networks, and
(b) having a sustainable consumption and production entry point to assist cities with realizing the economic, social and environmental benefits of resource efficiency.

20

Partners

6

Pilot Cities

GI-REC Tools and Support Mechanisms

Creating Knowledge

In various fields related to resource efficiency and SCP as well as to increase access, processing and use of resources through supply chain and life cycle management, to facilitate decision-making in creating solutions to improve efficiency of processes and use of resources within and across value chains, taking a Life-Cycle approach.

Piloting

To help cities apply the Urban Metabolism approach:

Access to methodology and technical expertise.
Intra-city decision-making processes based on science, translating theory into practice.

Check out the Pilot Cities here

Network Platform

GI-REC provides a mechanism for decision makers to exchange experiences, share best practices, and establish a peer-review process across cities for further improving access to resources and their efficient use.

Check out the list of Partner Organizations

About Us

About the Global Initiative for Resource Efficient Cities (GI-REC)

GI-REC is a cooperation platform offered by UN Environment to connect many different institutions that are using systems approaches (specifically urban metabolism and morphology approaches) towards building low-carbon, resilient, and resource efficient cities.

Using UN Environment’s convening ability, the Initiative distinguishes itself from other city sustainability activities by

(a) building on existing city networks, and

(b) having a sustainable consumption and production entry point to assist cities with realizing the economic, social and environmental benefits of resource efficiency.

GI-REC Tools and Support Mechanisms

Developing tools and research products

To help cities apply the Urban Metabolism approach:

Categories

Upcoming GI-REC Events

Latest News

GI-REC Secretariat